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Union says NFL wants DUI policy change

By WTOP Staff

BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The players’ union says the NFL has asked for the right to immediately suspend players who are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

NFL Players Association executives told The Associated Press on Friday that the league’s proposal to increase penalties for DUI offenses includes a provision to suspend or discipline a player before the completion of his legal due process.

“They want to immediately discipline for an arrest,” said George Atallah, the NFLPA’s assistant executive director of external affairs.

Such a policy change would also go for coaches, owners and league staff.

“We prefer to discuss these issues directly with the union,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Atallah also noted that progress has been made on possible testing for HGH as well as other areas of the drug program. The union historically has not been interested in focusing on one issue, but on the entire drug policy.

That would make erroneous recent reports that the NFLPA was in hurry-up mode to negotiate changes that would help a specific player, such as Wes Welker. The Denver receiver was suspended Tuesday by the league for four games under the performance-enhancing drug policy.

“There is no artificial deadline,” Atallah said. “A collectively bargained policy we are negotiating is on behalf of all players to benefit the most possible number of players for generations to come.”

But both sides have held intensified talks on a variety of drug policy issues, what New York Giants long snapper and union executive committee member Zak DeOssie’s calls “doing our due diligence.”

HGH testing has been the most difficult obstacle, even though the two sides agreed in principle on it when the CBA was reached in 2011. Two plans under discussion center around the parameters of a population study, in which the players could not appeal scientific findings to a neutral arbitrator, or not having a population study, but players have the ability to challenge the science.

Both of those scenarios are being discussed, although the league did agree to the appealing process several years ago.

“We are on our way to getting that neutral arbitration and this HGH testing will move forward,” DeOssie said. “We want it (done) right, we are in no rush.”

Also being discussed is marijuana testing. The union feels the league’s threshold for a positive test of 15 nanograms per millileter is too demanding, citing the IOC’s threshold of 150 ngs, 10 times as high.

The NFL threshold was collectively bargained. But as NFLPA President Eric Winston noted, anyone within the vicinity of people smoking marijuana without partaking themselves could wind up testing positive at such a low number.

“The (potency) level is so much greater in marijuana now, the second-hand smoke can get a positive test,” Winston said. “Just a guy who is around it second hand, then to have to go into the program?

“We don’t want false positives, we have to move up the minimum to normal workplace standards.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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